Which notable figure was born in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon?

Stratford-upon-Avon is practically synonymous with one name: William Shakespeare. This market town in Warwickshire, England, is where the world's most famous playwright was born in 1564 and spent much of his life. Shakespeare's plays, like "Hamlet," "Romeo and Juliet," and "Macbeth," are cornerstones of English literature and continue to be performed and studied worldwide. The Royal Shakespeare Company is even based in Stratford-upon-Avon, further cementing the town's connection to the Bard. While Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and Thomas Hardy are all literary giants in their own right, they are associated with other regions of England. Austen's novels often depict life in Hampshire, Dickens captured the essence of Victorian London, and Hardy's stories are rooted in the landscapes of Dorset. Therefore, when you think of Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare should immediately come to mind.